UHealth has Earned the Highest National Honor for Nursing Excellence
UHealth — University of Miami Health System has achieved the prestigious Magnet® with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet with Distinction Recognition Program®, reflecting our commitment to exceptional patient care, innovative practices, and a supportive environment where nurses and staff thrive.
With this achievement, UHealth ranks among the top 10 percent of healthcare organizations in the United States recognized for nursing excellence. Even more notably, UHealth is one of only 46 organizations worldwide — and the only one in Florida — to attain Magnet with Distinction, the highest level awarded by the program.
What Magnet with Distinction Status Means for Patient Care at UHealth
As the first health system in Florida to receive this elite designation, UHealth was recognized for meeting and exceeding the highest quality standards set for nursing quality, safety, and patient experience — all to deliver exceptional care and outcomes for patients and their families.
This achievement reflects years of investment in our nurses, our patients, and a commitment to continually improving the care and support our patients receive and deserve.
How Magnet Recognition Benefits Every Patient we Serve
The Magnet with Distinction Recognition Program is more than an honor—it is the way we care for our patients. At Magnet-designated organizations, patients benefit from:
- Better outcomes. Magnet organizations consistently perform at or above national benchmarks for nursing-sensitive quality measures (e.g., lower falls with injury, fewer hospital-acquired pressure injuries).
- Top nursing teams. Magnet hospitals attract and retain highly educated, specialty-certified nurses who lead care, whether in the hospital or clinic.
- Exceptional experience. Patients report stronger communication, education, and engagement from their care teams.
- Continuous improvement. Magnet must have strong evidence of measurable, sustained improvements in care delivery—reviewed and re-verified every four years by the ANCC.
Why UHealth Earned Magnet
Our nurses and interprofessional teams delivered measurable results that meet and exceed Magnet benchmarks across inpatient and outpatient settings, including:
- Nursing Education and Expertise
- A majority of UHealth nurses hold advanced degrees.
- A significant amount of nurses are nationally certified in their specialties.
- Patient Experience (Q4 2022 – Q3 2024)
- Inpatient units consistently outperform industry standards in courtesy, respect and engagement.
- Outpatient clinics demonstrate excellence in patient education and pain management.
- Nurse Engagement
- RN satisfaction response rates reflect strong engagement.
- Most units exceed industry standards in RN satisfaction, with top strengths in teamwork, interprofessional relationships, and fundamentals of quality care.
How Magnet Hospitals Deliver Better Care
UHealth's nursing excellence is built on the ANCC Magnet components:
Transformational Leadership – Our nurse leaders set a clear vision and support teams with the resources to deliver it every day.
Structural Empowerment – Nurses participate in shared decision-making, career advancement, and continuous learning at every stage.
Exemplary Professional Practice – Our care teams practice to the top of their licenses, collaborate across disciplines, and center care on each patient and family.
New Knowledge, Innovations & Improvements – We continually test and scale ideas that improve outcomes and the patient experience.
Empirical Outcomes – We track results, prove impact with data, and hold ourselves accountable to national benchmarks.
Our Nursing Care Model: "Anchored for Excellence"
Our Professional Practice Model — Anchored for Excellence — guides everything we do: relationship-based care, evidence-based practice, and a culture of safety. It empowers nurses to coordinate care across the continuum, speak up for patients, address ethical concerns, and use data to improve outcomes.
See our values in action: Excellence · Compassion · Respect · Discovery.
What Patients can Expect at UHealth
- Highly coordinated care across clinic, hospital, and home.
- Easy-to-understand guidance and education to make confident decisions.
- Faster, safer recoveries supported by evidence-based pathways.
- A voice in patient care. We listen—and we act—on what matters to those we serve.